Driver in fatal Taunton crash charged with vehicular homicide

The 24-year-old driver of a car who crashed into a tree early Sunday morning -- killing two passengers and injuring four, including the driver -- will be charged with misdemeanor motor vehicle homicide.

The 24-year-old driver of a car who crashed into a tree early Sunday morning -- killing two passengers and injuring four, including the driver -- will be charged with misdemeanor motor vehicle homicide.

Police have cited Nicholas Costa, 208 Hart St., charging him with two counts of motor vehicle homicide resulting from negligence.

Costa will also be charged with driving on a suspended license and driving with an open container of alcohol in the vehicle. Police say they found an open bottle of vodka, two-thirds full, in the car.

Two Taunton teens, a boy and girl, were killed as a result of the 12:30 a.m. crash in front of 1861 Bay St.

Passengers Jason Neto and Eden Macedo, both 18, were declared dead after being taken to Morton Hospital.

Police initially said all four survivors were eventually taken to Rhode Island Hospital.

A spokesman for the Providence hospital on Monday listed Ashley Rivera, 18, as being in serious condition and both Chelsea Crancha, 19, and Jose Rodriguez, 21, as being in fair condition.

The hospital had no record of Costa having been admitted. But it’s not unusual for a victim’s family to request that a patent’s name not be made public.

Costa could serve up to two and a half years in jail if found guilty of either of the misdemeanor homicide charges.

If convicted of felony motor vehicle homicide, Costa would be looking at a maximum 15 years in jail.

The felony charge requires proof beyond a reasonable doubt that a driver was under the influence of drugs, alcohol or some other substance.

The latter can include so-called bath salts and synthetic marijuana, potentially lethal substances that can still be found at some convenience stores, despite a bill signed into law last summer by President Obama banning their online or interstate sale.